Since many months my UP printer was unusable, i've try many things, read thousands of messages and advice, nothing works.
The story is long and my english is poor, sorry...

It was an Up Plus printer that works fine for about 1 year (perhaps 40-50 prints).

Few months ago, the extruder stop working fine during prints and from that moment never works fine again.

The first time i got problems that when a first try to use PLA (before i used ABS). After some attempt i conclude PLA was hard to process and go back with ABS.
Of course i setup the software correctly each time (from ABS > PLA and then PLA > ABS).
It was also at that time that i began using a gray ABS (before i only print with white ABS), i suspect the color to change a bit the temperature required but going back to white ABS do not change...

After that even with ABS i got troubles and troubles became more and more important.
At the beginning i got prints that stop (then printer continue but plastic was not extrude), some print got fine.
At that point i did not notice noises when extrusion stop (but i was not each time beside the printer when the problem appears).
After a few experiment i conclude that the extrusion stop after an amount of time (from 30 to 60 minutes).

Of course i clean completly the nose and the head each time.

Finally i order a new nose (nose with heater), the new nose do exactly the same and even worse because it must be slightly smaller because the ABS filament push it hard (just before stopping) and often the head to down (even if screw it hard) and then a heard now a noise.

I test printing in air after it stop extruding (handling head with a tool of course) and pushing manually the filament : nothing to do the filament is blocked !
The only way to restart was to remove filament, cut it then i could print manually in air !

So now i suspect also the filament : i test (remember) PLA, Gray ABS and white ABS. I inspect and do not see air bubble in filament.
But i only have one provider, and i do not want to be another filament (i got 4 in stocks) if the printer could not print anymore.

I also suspect the motor (it was very hot after 15 minutes) and add a second fan, nothing changes.

Now i also suspect the software (temperature parameters), because is remember that the problem occurs after the first time i switch software to PLA.
I'm using Mac software.
Is there a way to check temperature parameters ? Do i have to test with a PC ?

Summary :
*The extruder stop extruding after 15-60 minutes.
*The extruder make now noise, but the first time the problem occurs (this summer) no noise, just stopping extruding (motor turn).
*The nose/head is clean, and cleaned each time.
*The nose has been changed.
*The only way to make the printer print again was to remove filament, cut it and put it again.

At that point i do not understand what append.
Any help would be useful, thanks.

Ok ... first PLA is hard to print because the extruder motor gets hot and makes the PLA go soft and it jams.

Once you have had a jam especially a PLA one you often need to clean out the teeth of the extruder gear. Bits of plastic get ground off in the jam and get stuck in the extruders teeth - this stops it grabbing and feeding the filament properly.

If you want to print PLA then I am finding Colorfabb PLA seems to work reliably due to it's higher softening point. Other premium PLAs often do a little better but not all of them.

Anyway, clean out your extruder gear teeth and let us know if you are still having feeding issues.

roller wrote:
Once you have had a jam especially a PLA one you often need to clean out the teeth of the extruder gear. Bits of plastic get ground off in the jam and get stuck in the extruders teeth - this stops it grabbing and feeding the filament properly. .

Thanks, but after each jam i completly clean the head : nozzle, teeth (and yes each Time there is plastic on teeth) : hard tooth brush is a great tool for That.
But it did not help, next print still jam...

It could be that the little white plastic cap with the bearing is causing the problems. When it gets too much room the filament will push/bend it to the left and then the teeth from the gear can't get enough grip. Always remove old glue from the part and then superglue it back on the stepper motor.

Edward wrote:Do you have problem with UP filament? Maybe your ABS melting temperature is too low and cause jam?

I've no more UP filament at home.
Just white and grey ABS (from another provider) and PLA. Those ABS from another provider have been used 6 months ago (a whole 1Kg filament without problems). But it may be a source of trouble.

I hesitate to order another ABS without been sure it the problem (it cost money, as i live in Europe).
But i do not found any other clue...

pp3dp.nl wrote:It could be that the little white plastic cap with the bearing is causing the problems. When it gets too much room the filament will push/bend it to the left and then the teeth from the gear can't get enough grip. Always remove old glue from the part and then superglue it back on the stepper motor.